The Texas Rangers' balance—pitching, offense, speed and defense—took them all the way to the World Series last season.

In the offseason, however, Texas absorbed a major loss. Ace lefthander Cliff Lee signed with the Philadelphia Phillies despite a strong push from the Rangers. Even without Lee, the Rangers remain the class of the AL West. They have the best lineup in the division and still have plenty of pitching.

C.J. Wilson, the closer turned starter, will assume the No. 1 spot in the rotation that once was Lee's. The lefthander was 15-8 with a 3.35 ERA last season and pitched particularly well in the ALDS and World Series.

Colby Lewis, a revelation last season, returned from Japan and posted a 3.72 ERA and career-high 196 strikeouts—the most by a Texas pitcher since Nolan Ryan's 203 in 1991. Tommy Hunter went 13-4 and also had a sub-4.00 ERA. Derek Holland, in and out of the rotation in part because injuries, likely will pitch in the No. 4 spot. Either Scott Feldman, a 17-game winner in 2009, or Matt Harrison will begin the season as the fifth starter, filling in until newcomer Brandon Webb is ready.

And then there is Neftali Feliz, the reigning AL rookie of the year who set a rookie record with 40 saves last season. Feliz, a starter during his minor league career, could transition to the rotation, as Wilson did so successfully in 2010.

In the bullpen, veteran lefthander Darren Oliver, 40, will be joined by 41-year-old lefthander Arthur Rhodes. Darren O'Day will provide setup work from the right side. If the Rangers decide to start Feliz, Mark Lowe and Alexi Ogando are options to close. Texas' 3.38 bullpen ERA ranked second in the AL last season, and the Rangers' relief corps led the league with 32 wins.

Offensively, Hamilton, 29, tied his career high with 32 homers despite missing most of the regular season's final month. With Hamilton in left, Julio Borbon is in center and Nelson Cruz in right. Cruz is coming off a 22-homer, 78-RBI season in which he hit .318 (though hamstring injuries limited him to 108 games). Borbon, entering his second full season in the majors, had 17 bunt hits and he stole 15 bases.

First baseman Mitch Moreland, called up in late July, became a postseason hero (.348 average, seven RBIs) and might have solidified a position that the Rangers have struggled to fill. Second baseman Ian Kinsler was on the disabled list twice in 2010; Texas was 61-41 with Kinsler, 29-31 without him. Shortstop Elvis Andrus continued to impress at age 22, scoring 88 runs, stealing 32 bases and playing solid defense.

Newcomer Adrian Beltre, who led the majors with 49 doubles last season, will take over for Michael Young at third base. Beltre's signing forced Young into a DH/utility infielder role and fueled an offseason controversy that resulted in Texas shopping Young. Yorvit Torrealba and Mike Napoli, both added during the offseason, will take over the catching duties from Bengie Molina, with Napoli also getting at-bats at DH. The Young/Napoli tandem must replace the production of Vladimir Guerrero, who led the team with 115 RBIs last season but signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent.

PROJECTED CLOSER

RHP Neftali Feliz. 3.73 ERA, 1.10 WHIP at home; 1.27, 0.57 on road

THREE STRIKES

Sporting News baseball writer Anthony Witrado analyzes the Rangers:

1. Michael Young won't be a distraction. The player and team have done a fantastic job of moving past Young's trade request. It has been determined, at least for now, that Young will bounce around the infield as well as DH. And Young has been proven professional enough that it hasn't been an issue.

2. Elvis will return. Not that Elvis. Elvis Andrus will rebound from a somewhat disappointing sophomore season and have his best season yet. Andrus had drop-offs in several offensive categories in 2010, but more attention to detail—offensively and defensively—will keep him on the path to becoming one of the game's most dynamic shortstops.

3. C.J. Wilson won't disappoint. Wilson threw more than 200 innings and made 33 starts in his first full season as a starter. Now that he knows the rigors, he will show why Texas believes he is ace material.

Sporting News prediction: The Rangers will repeat as AL West champions and return to the ALCS. However, the Boston Red Sox will end Texas' quest for a second consecutive trip to the World Series.